Ashour is a Senior Lecturer in Security Studies at the University of Exeter and an Associate Fellow at Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London. He can be reached at O.Ashour@Exeter.AC.UK or @DrOmarAshour .
Comment: Considering the undemocratic nature of the governments that will lead any joint Arab force, its motives and chances of success should be questioned.
Comment: In a political context in which authoritarian repression, military coups, civil wars and other forms of political violence and social instability are common, violent extremism will be the likely outcome.
Comment: While recent leaks have implicated many in Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi's inner circle, they have not touched them all. Is this an accident or by design?
Charlie Hebdo attack has left France in a difficult position. The country of liberty, equality and fraternity is struggling to live up to them domestically, leaving extremist narratives more sellable in France and elsewhere.
The Senate report revealed the dark side of one US security apparatus but also a working democracy in action. For some Arab security agencies, however, it was an additional outrageous ignominy in a long record of disgrace.